diff --git a/docs/development/build-instructions-linux.md b/docs/development/build-instructions-linux.md
index 42b7730a84ab..e6b5004bf280 100644
--- a/docs/development/build-instructions-linux.md
+++ b/docs/development/build-instructions-linux.md
@@ -117,6 +117,14 @@ To clean the build files:
 $ npm run clean
 ```
 
+To clean only `out` and `dist` directories:
+
+```bash
+$ npm run clean-build
+```
+
+**Note:** Both clean commands require running `bootstrap` again before building.
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 ### Error While Loading Shared Libraries: libtinfo.so.5
diff --git a/docs/development/build-instructions-osx.md b/docs/development/build-instructions-osx.md
index 7b934cd55b2a..d0e95aaf18c8 100644
--- a/docs/development/build-instructions-osx.md
+++ b/docs/development/build-instructions-osx.md
@@ -85,6 +85,14 @@ To clean the build files:
 $ npm run clean
 ```
 
+To clean only `out` and `dist` directories:
+
+```bash
+$ npm run clean-build
+```
+
+**Note:** Both clean commands require running `bootstrap` again before building.
+
 ## Tests
 
 See [Build System Overview: Tests](build-system-overview.md#tests)
diff --git a/docs/development/build-instructions-windows.md b/docs/development/build-instructions-windows.md
index 2146abad97b9..4f7335e108fd 100644
--- a/docs/development/build-instructions-windows.md
+++ b/docs/development/build-instructions-windows.md
@@ -83,6 +83,14 @@ To clean the build files:
 $ npm run clean
 ```
 
+To clean only `out` and `dist` directories:
+
+```bash
+$ npm run clean-build
+```
+
+**Note:** Both clean commands require running `bootstrap` again before building.
+
 ## Tests
 
 See [Build System Overview: Tests](build-system-overview.md#tests)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a572a1918ef3..8de882fbf5f4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "bump-version": "./script/bump-version.py",
     "build": "python ./script/build.py -c D",
     "clean": "python ./script/clean.py",
+    "clean-build": "python ./script/clean.py --build",
     "coverage": "npm run instrument-code-coverage && npm test -- --use-instrumented-asar",
     "instrument-code-coverage": "electabul instrument --input-path ./lib --output-path ./out/coverage/electron.asar",
     "lint": "npm run lint-js && npm run lint-cpp && npm run lint-py && npm run lint-api-docs-js && npm run lint-api-docs",
diff --git a/script/clean.py b/script/clean.py
index 669b6b4dd5f3..c63bdbbadee2 100755
--- a/script/clean.py
+++ b/script/clean.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+import argparse
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -11,13 +12,34 @@ SOURCE_ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 
 def main():
   os.chdir(SOURCE_ROOT)
-  rm_rf('node_modules')
-  rm_rf('dist')
-  rm_rf('out')
-  rm_rf('spec/node_modules')
-  rm_rf('vendor/brightray/vendor/download/libchromiumcontent')
-  rm_rf('vendor/brightray/vendor/libchromiumcontent/src')
-  rm_rf(os.path.expanduser('~/.node-gyp'))
+
+  args = parse_args()
+
+  remove_directory('dist')
+  remove_directory('out')
+
+  if not args.build:
+    remove_directory('node_modules')
+    remove_directory('spec/node_modules')
+
+    remove_directory('vendor/brightray/vendor/download/libchromiumcontent')
+    remove_directory('vendor/brightray/vendor/libchromiumcontent/src')
+
+    remove_directory(os.path.expanduser('~/.node-gyp'))
+
+
+def parse_args():
+  parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Remove generated and' \
+                                               'downloaded build files')
+  parser.add_argument('-b', '--build',
+                      help='Only remove out and dist directories',
+                      action='store_true')
+  return parser.parse_args()
+
+
+def remove_directory(directory):
+  print 'Removing %s' % directory
+  rm_rf(directory)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':